Shield for rice-harvesters.



No. 786,520. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

F..A. RYTHER.. SHIELD POR RICE HARVESTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK A. RYTHER, OF CHICAGO, lLLINOlS.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,520, dated April 4,1905.

Application iiled May 20, 1904.. Serial No. 208,967.

The invention relates to means for protecting the main driving-chain anddriving-wheels of harvesters from mud, and is especially applicable torice-harvesters.

It is well understood that rice is harvested from fields which have beenbut recently covered with water, and hence there is presenta sedimentand mud, which collects upon theperiphery of the main wheel, from whereit fallsl upon the driving-chain and sprocket-wheels, resulting indifiicult operation and rapid wear of these parts. Such collection ofthe mud on the wheel and chain will occur unless the soil is either toowet or too dry to adhere, and heretofore no provision has been made tokeep the mud from the sprocket chain and wheels:

While this invention is broadly applicable to various vehicles andmachines, it is more particularly applicable to harvesters, which areusually constructed in such a manner that the relative position of thecenter of one of the sprocket-wheels is made to change with respect tothe supporting-frame-such achange of position as results, for instance,when the frame of the harvester is made to rise and fall relative to thecenter of the main supportingwheel. Such a construction renders itimpractical to support the shield from the frame of the machine andmakes necessary a connection which will permit the shield to move aboutthe centers of the sprocket-Wheels which it protects.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a grain-side elevationof the main supporting-wheel, the driving-sprockets, the driving-chain,and other parts in connection with which this improvement is shown, theview being taken as indicated by the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2represents a corresponding plan of practically the same parts as shownin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detached view in elevation of the rear end of theshield. Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated by theline e 4in Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a portion of one side of theshield, taken as indicated by the line 5 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is atransverse section taken through the rim of the main drivingsprocket-wheel and adjacent portion of the shield as indicated by theline 6 6 in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the upper.quadrant-section of the shield which embraces the forward .half of themain driving sprocket-wheel, and Fig. 8 is a detail of the arc-shapedbrace which is secured to the margin of the shield contiguous to therear half of the main driving sprocket-wheel.

In the drawings, 1 designates the main frame of the machine; 2, the mainsupporting-wheel; 3, the main supporting-Wheel axle, and 4 thetraction-lugs on the periphery of the said main supporting-wheel.

5 designates the side castings or hangers, one of which is secured tothe main frame of the harvester on the stubbleward side thereof and oneon the grainward side of the harvester to the longitudinal bar 1', whichconstitutes a portion of the main frame.

6 designates asprocket-wheel secured to the hub 7 of the main wheel 2.

Rigidly secured to the axle 3 is the gearwheel 8, and mounted in asuitable frame 9 is the worm-gear 10, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,)which' meshes with said gear- Wheel. This worm-gear 10 is rigidlysecured to and operated by the controlling-shaft 11, which receives onits rear end the crank 12 for turning said shaft. As this shaft 11 isrotated it will cause, through the intermedi,- ate gears 8 and 10,rotation of the axle 3, on the ends of which are secured the pinions 13.These pinions 13 mesh with the toothed rack in the side castings 5, thuscausing relative vertical movement between the supportingwheel 2 andmain frame of the harvesterthat is, the frame will be raised and loweredwith respect to the supporting-wheel and in a manner well understood inthis class of machines.

On the rear end of the main frame 1 is mounted the shaft 1li, rigidlysecured to which is the sprocket-wheel 15. This cross-shaft 14communicates motion to the various operative parts of the machine.

A chain 16 communi- IOO cates motion from the driving-sinocket 6 to thesprocket-wheel 15.

17 is a casting recessed to receive the sprocket-wheel 15 and aperturcdto journal upon the shaft 14. This casting constitutes the rear end ofthe shield.

Mounted upon the rim of the driving'- sprocket-wheel 6 are thequadrant-sections 18 and 18, provided with the flanges 19,v which restupon the fiangc of said wheel. These quadrant-sections are provided withan annular recess 20, adapted to receive the chain and teeth of thesprocket-wheel and are made in upper and lower sections in order toreadily adapt them to be placed upon said wheel. On thequadrant-sections are the lugs 183, (see Fig. 7,) by means of which saidsections are connected with the metal sheets forming the shield and alsowith the arc-shaped bar 182, (see Fig. 8,) which conforms to thecurvature of flange of the sprocket-wheel 6 and strengthens that portionof the shield adjacent thereto. These quad rant-sections 18 and 18afford a tight cover and good protection for the sprocket-chain andteeth and are movable upon said wheel about the center thereof. A shieldis secured to the lugs 183 on the sections 18 and 18', the shieldconnecting at the rear with the open side of the casting 17. This shieldis preferably made also in two sections, as shown, to facilitate placingin position or removing when desired, 21 designating the lower 'sectionand 21' the upper section. This shield consists of metal sheets rivetedor bolted, as at 22, to the adjoining members, the upper section beingpreferably bolted, as

shown, in order to permit of its being readily y removed. Thecross-section of the shield is of rectangular form and of a widthsomewhat greater than the width of the chain which it receives. Theupper and lower sections 21 and 21 of the shield unite with each other,as shown in Fig. 5, in which 23 is a strip riveted to the outside ofsaid shield, the upper margins of said strip 23 and the lower section 21being made flush and with a narrow slot between. In this narrow slot isreceived the lower edge of the upper section 21/, as clearly shown insaid Fig. 5. In order to relieve the flange of the sprocket-wheel 6 fromthe weight of the shield, a bar24 is secured to the said shield atpoints near the periphery of the inclosed sprocket-wheel. This barresting on the hub of the wheel will bring the pressure caused by theweight of the shield to bear at that point instead of upon the rim, andthus greatly reduce the friction. The quadrant-sections forming theforward portion of the shield which covers that part of thesprocket-wheel are secured together by the bolt 25, which also securesin position the forward end of the bar 24.

In the lower part of the casting 17 is journaled the tightener-roller26. The hole 27 in this casting 17, which engages the cross-shaft 14, isslotted transversely, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to provide for aslight transverse movement of the shield with respect to said shaft 14when such transverse movement is required, as may arise from a slightinaccuracy in the construction of the curved side castings or hangers 5.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a. harvester, in combination, a supporting-wheel, a main framevertically adjustable relative thereto, means for effecting suchvertical adjustment, a driving sprocketwheel in effect integral andconcentric with the said supporting-wheel, a sprocket-wheel suitablymounted in bearings upon the main frame, and a shield inclosing both thesaid sprocket-wheels, the said shield being provided with a pivotalbearing in connection with each sprocket-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a harvester, in combination, -a supporting-wheel, a main framevertically adjustable relative thereto, means for effecting suchvertical adjustment, a driving sprocket- Wheel in effect integral andconcentric with the said supporting-wheel, a sprocket-wheel suitablymounted in bearings upon the main frame and a shield inclosing both ofsaid sprocket-wheels said shield being longitudi- 9 nally movable to alimited extent with respect to the line of centers of said wheels,substantially as described. y

3. In a harvester, in combination, a supporting-wheel, amain framevertically adjustable relative thereto, means for effecting suchvertical adjustment, a driving sprocketwheel secured to and concentricwith the said supporting-wheel, a cross-shaft mounted in suitablebearings on the said main frame, a sprocket-wheel secured to saidcross-shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket-wheels and a shield oneend of which engages and is supported by the said driving sprocket-wheelthe other end thereof being supported upon the said cross-shaft,substantially as described.

4. In a harvester, in combination, a supporting-Wheel, amain framevertically adjustable relative thereto, means for effecting suchvertical adjustment, a driving sprocketwheel secured to and concentricwith the said supporting-Wheel, a cross-shaft mounted in suitablebearings on the said main frame, a sprocket-wheel secured to saidcross-shaft, a chain connecting said sprocket-wheels and a shield oneend of which engages and is supported by said driving sprocket-wheel theother end thereof being provided with a longitudinally-extending slotwhich engages and is supported by the said cross-shaft, substantially asdescribed.

FRANK A. RYTHER. Witnesses:

F RED. H. SMITH, C. S. ADAMS.

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